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Here’s this week’s Best and Worst of WWE Smackdown Live’s 1,003rd episode for November 6, 2018.

I really want Nikki Cross to be NXT Nikki Cross, especially with her platonic pairing with Killian Dain. Like, I love the way they were always there to help one another with no hints of romantic involvement.

I don’t know if this really was a callup for Nikki, and if it was it didn’t work. Just appearing with this long since dead in the water faction with no build and tapping out after five minutes hardly screams WE ARE COMPLETE, YOU TAKE US SERIOUSLY NOW. She/they didn’t get a Fallout video either to demonstrate what this character is, in the week where just announcing the Survivor Series team advanced one story (Charlotte doubting herself) and seeded another (Absolution breakup)

“Not only does he get to show off his undeniable in-ring skill, he does it alongside people WWE think matter, which can only be good for his rep” Yeah, remind me how that went for Neville immediately after his callup, preferably using the phrases “first actual main roster feud” and “Bo Dallas”.

I hope Nikki Cross and Biana Belair still have a blowoff match. Also, Nikko should never tap out, just get pinned or rendered unconscious.

Why does WWE think people would rather see Shane than Rusev, Almas, Harper, Dillinger etc? And why do we need Daniel Bryan pretending he is better than all of them?

I thought the story was stupid when I read the spoilers but liked it a little better watching it. Miz isn’t the face. He’s the supergenius sneaky heel playing on Bryan’s emotions to make him look bad so he can be captain, take all the credit, and get a title shot

Yeah Nikki’s match with Baszler where she passed out with a smile on her face was awesome. Too bad Becky doesn’t use a choke hold… yet. I agree with you about Miz, pretending to be nice and playing the long game. Unless WWE wants to turn him face to take the title from Brock (JK, but that’d be cool)

Kinda hope CrossFit kicks Sanity to the curb, I like them as a click but they ain’t making it on the main level we’ve seen it too many times and Cross already hits buttons consistent with Awesome NXT Star who isn’t for the main roster crowd especially every week.

I love Sonya and Mandy they have great chemistry together in backstage interviews(they really only talk online) it’s a very relatable Pretty Girl & Cool Gay Friend dynamic that the IIcconics can’t touch

It’s been said plenty of times before, but this is a good time to point out that just about every show should mention that the winners of matches make more money. Giving a little motivation would solve almost every storyline problem.

@Mr.Bliss it could if they (I know, I know) made it logical. Like they are saving their bump cards for bigger pay out days (skip wrestling on Raw so you can win on the upcoming PPV or whatever) or just trying to manipulate GM figures into giving them easier to win matches. Money shouldn’t be every wrestler’s motivation all the time (it would really only work for babyfaces with a “family man” angle for example), but just establishing that firmly as a rule of the fictional universe would make things way more sense.

To follow up, creative should think about the various WWE shows like any other fictional universe. Old Star Trek made no sense until Gene Rodneberry created a series “Bible” with simple, concrete ground rules. I don’t think WWE has a Bible. These two things aren’t exactly the same problem, but I think they’re related.

At this point, being an NXT success seems to be a bigger curse than being a TNA success. It’s like Vince and the main roster creatives don’t want to admit that someone from the minor leagues could be more over than one of their precious creations or Shane Mcmahon.

Other than Samoa Joe, I cant think of anyone who came from NXT and stayed relevant, and even Joe is just constantly losing.

There’s no way raw&smackdown have the same writers correct?? The differences between the champions and challengers, tag team divisions, and Women’s divisions are vastly superior on Smackdown! I was practically Ned Flanders purple drapes screeching when Nikki Cross stepped out

I really wonder why they never decided to add stakes to these matches like they must know it annoys the general audience so they have to be doing it on purpose, not only that it could help set up future stories.

Anyway can we get like a reject 5v5 match that features guys like Almas, Rusev, Elias and Finn

Well, obviously the Shane McMahon win was to be one of the RAW vs Smackdown ‘reasons to fight each other’ at Survivor series.
The ugly part of it was that instead of a tournament we thought would mean nothing, it was about 14 matches before and during a PPV which meant… this. A reason for Stephany McMahon to ‘adress her brother who stole the cup for Smackdown’.
Honestly, for a 7-match PPV time thing, I would’ve prefered it to be altogether meaningless and have somepne worthy win it.